As the Winter Meetings enters its final stretch today, here are three things we’ll be keeping an eye on around the baseball world throughout the day today:
1. 2024 Rule 5 Draft:
Baseball’s annual Rule 5 Draft is scheduled to take place at 1pm CT this afternoon. International players and high school draft picks who signed in 2019 and college draft picks signed in 2020 who have not yet been added to their club’s 40-man roster are vulnerable in today’s draft, where any club can select them for a $100K fee. If the player does not stick on their new club’s 26-man roster for the entire season, he must be offered back to his original club for $50K. Teams must have open space on their 40-man roster to select a player in the draft, meaning the Tigers and Red Sox would each need to clear space on their 40-man roster before the draft begins in order to participate.
Players selected in the Rule 5 draft occasionally go on to impact their team in the future, as free agent outfielder Anthony Santander famously did following his selection in the 2016 Rule 5 Draft. Red Sox right-hander Justin Slaten, A’s right-hander Mitch Spence, and Padres right-hander Stephen Kolek are among last year’s picks who remained with their new organization through the entire 2024 season, with Slaten in particular featuring prominently in Boston’s late-inning mix. Will a similarly valuable diamond in the rough be unearthed today?
2. Yankees pivot away from Soto:
The Yankees started their pivot away from Juan Soto yesterday in a big way when they agreed to an eight-year deal with left-hander Max Fried. The deal is the largest in MLB history for a left-handed starting pitcher, and every indication is that the hot stove will stay active in the Bronx going forward. The club has been connected to first baseman Christian Walker, third baseman Alex Bregman, and outfielder Teoscar Hernandez among others in free agency, while potential trade candidates include White Sox southpaw Garrett Crochet, Astros outfielder Kyle Tucker, and Cubs first baseman/outfielder Cody Bellinger. The club’s reported interest in Crochet came before they landed Fried, but each of those hitters still seems to be a reasonably possible target for the Yankees as they look to rebuild their lineup without Soto.
3. What’s next for the Rangers?
The Rangers checked the biggest box of their offseason yesterday by agreeing to a deal that would bring right-hander Nathan Eovaldi back into the fold. That wasn’t the club’s only move last night, either, as they followed it up by acquiring infielder Jake Burger from the Marlins for a package of three prospects. With limited payroll space available as the club seeks to duck under the luxury tax this winter, could the acquisition of Burger prompt Texas to deal a hitter such as first baseman Nathaniel Lowe in order to free up additional dollars for pitching help? Barring to clear payroll, Chris Young’s front office will need to get creative in order to rebuild a bullpen that’s lost Jose Leclerc, David Robertson, and Kirby Yates to free agency while also adding additional starting depth.
Cashman just looks like a broken man
Seen Cash in interviews this week. The dude is perfectly fine and professional as always.
Theres no point in even entertaining comments like that. Its an unprovable assumption of an intangible quality disguised as a informed sports take. Its ESPN talking head tier and should be ignored tbh
It’s a facade.
Lost the World Series
Let Soto leave to the harlot across town
I’m just kidding. Yankees did themselves a favor not overpaying him and netting the QO plus they have a replacement in Jasson Dominguez who should start seeing some playing time.
Max Fried was a nice get now they just really need Burnes to go with Cole and Fried and Yankees rotation getting a little dangerous.
Har – Yanks are already at $226M for next season and have yet to pick up a couple outfielders and a first baseman, Burnes ain’t happening. He’s not needed.
Ah yes, the “we have Juan Soto at home” card. Interesting you say Soto was over paid and in the same breath mention Fried was a nice get. You’re paying a pitcher with recent forearm troubles, 10 years removed from tommy john…until hes 39??? Sounds more like a desperate move if anything. When Soto had that much money in play, 5 million probably such a tiny factor…he just didnt want to be a Yankee.
Is it just me or is this the most boring Winter Meetings ever?
They are not getting Burnes. They are not dealing with another Boras client again period! They already have enough starters but as of now Stroman and Cortes both will be dealt leaving their depth starters – 6 thru 10 as Brubaker, Poteet, Warren and Hampton. If they end up dangling one of Dominguez or Jones, Hampton, Trevino and another decent prospect to try and land Guerrero or Tucker they can be scary good!
Idost – And let’s not forget Fried’s sparkling 5.10 career postseason ERA and his highly unique personality.
What could go wrong? It’s not like playing in NY is any different than playing in Atlanta, right?
Yea the media is a completely different beast in NY. Outside of game 6 in the 21 WS, hes been pretty terrible.
Idost – Yep, and also the fanbase is quite different. If he doesn’t pitch well, the Yankee Stadium crowd will be merciless. Remember it’s the same fanbase that booed Judge just a few days after he broke the AL homerun record.
Just a spelling correction “he did not want to be a yankee” is actually spelled “he just wanted the larger AAV” – I don’t think there was any want to be on any team. The more aggressive suitor went big and won, and probably hope he takes the opt out clause after 5 years.
15 years 765 mill
8 years 218 mill
Yeah Soto was overpaid. Paying a dude half the years and 1/3 the salary is a nice get by comparison. Plus, if you’re willing to spend 765 mill you can add 3 great players compared to just one and still be responsible for less years than Soto.
Its easier to get 4 good years out of 8 years than it is 7 or 8 years out of 15 years.
Yankees also have the option to put Fried in the pen. Comparatively speaking, Diaz and Hader making 20 mill isn’t far off to Frieds 27 aav
Mets putting Soto at 1B and DH is a severe overpay for the position.
@Fever
The days of getting top of rotation FA SP on short term deals are gone. it’s the price of doing business. But why act as if that’s going to handicap the Yanks? They have insurance and can go out and spend more. Yanks collect young arms, so there’s depth. You want to focus on his 5 ERA in the post-season. I’ll focus on the 6 IP shutout he threw in game 6 to best the Astros in the WS.
BTW isn’t 10 years removed from TJ a good thing? Each year he had the sore elbow he finished the season without any falloff.
Postseason ERA is a totally irrelevant small-sample-size number that has little predictive value for the future.
He’s getting paid for his meaningful regular season numbers, not for those from a handful of playoff games.
They didn’t sign him for the pen. Where do you guys come up with this stuff?
Chris young said rangers can go over tax this year TV deal coming before Christmas.
Where did you see this?
In his daydreams
He said in an interview with Jeff Wilson, that he has been told by ownership that they could go over the luxury tax to win a championship.
I read and heard a lot from CY this week, and I never read or heard him say that.
Well he did
Can you give a link to that comment?
Never happened!
Pretty sure the Jays just replaced Bichette, whether it’s for 2025 or 26 and beyond is to be determined, but I guess they either trade him at the deadline, or let him build value and trade him early into the season like the Marlins did with Arraez
@MysteryWhiteBoy13
That’s what I thought when I saw the trade. Bichette will be gone sometime this year.
Wouldn’t be surprised to see the Dodgers get him this offseason and trade Chris Taylor and prospects
I cant believe that the Sox are one of only two teams that cannot even threaten to select someone from the Draft today because they’re 40 Man Roster is full. This is General Manager 101, yet Breslow ran out and signed two 37yo relievers and put them on the 40 Man. Why?????????
Sad – I’ve got no problem with signing Chapman, it’s the Wilson signing that really baffles me. Very risky and even if it pans out, are they really gonna carry 3 LHR on the active roster? Or do they think both Bernardino and Booser are done?
FPG – I defended Chapman signing as well. Not a bad move. Wilson was more than baffling, just no need to rush there.
Bernardino is still a very useful arm, Booser is not
Breslow may have looked at the available rule 5 players and decided there was no one there worth a selection. Most teams don’t select anyone in a given year.
Im willing to give breslow the benefit of the doubt here based on the outstanding slaton pick last year. Its very possible they dont see anyone available to them where they pick worth picking and are still planning to add to the 40 mlb man thus the boozers will be cut anyway..just for a free agent or trade vs a lottery ticket…trust the process for now
It isnt that they want/dont want to select a player. Its the idea that the other teams KNOW that they CANT.
Trades are made over draft position (just last year), but he has taken them completely out of the conversation because he jumped out to add Justin Wilson.
Nothing stops them from having another team select a player then making a trade which is exactly how they got slaton from texas via the mets last year..i would put zero stock in them actually having a pick since we have evidence of breslow being smart enough to circumvent the system already , whether they have a pick or not is irrelevant if the players they would choose go prior to thier pick..no team that wants to win is going to carry a late rule 5 pick
Also people put too much stock in these picks actually working imo since very much an exception if they do…look how people flipped put the year bos lost song, piolitti and ward and how that worked out
PHJ – I agree this is the inside-iest of inside baseball (no pun intended) of any sport, any probably has no real effect other than the very limited number of players in the article. But, I just feel like I want to now my POBO has his hand firmly on the wheel, and this is just one other reason to think that Breslow does not
You might be right i am trying to find a reason to believe….shouldnt have to try so hard with comments this offseason from the fo …so far not looking great
@Sad
this isn’t the amateur draft. yes you can find a good player here and there but each team is keeping 40 of what they view as their best talent. That means you’re serving for “diamonds in the rough ” and you must keep them on your 40 man all year long. Maybe they don’t see anyone they’re interested in?
Nate Lowe could be a nice cheap alternative idea for 1b for the Yanks with control through 2027. Not sure what Texas would look for in return, but I don’t think his stock is upper echelon prospects high.
I was kinda hoping for a Josh Naylor trade but doesn’t look like Cleveland needs to move him now. Lowe would be a good fallback if Texas wants to move him. Though Bellinger really tops my wish list.
I honestly like Naylor more, but even though he has a year less of control, I think his stock is higher. Lowe was injured and had a so-so return from it.
The Rangers mostly need big league relievers and would probably want that in return for Lowe.
Ideally they keep Lowe at 1B and let Burger dh. If they trade him it will be for cheap/controllable bullpen help.
@Ranger Danger19
Lowe has a gold glove and silver slugger award in the last 2 years , 20% above league average and 2 years before free agency, he should get more than a cheap reliever.
A cheap reliever could also be a great reliever.
Who cares about Silver Sluggers and Gold Gloves? Lowe is a first baseman with limited power. He’s not going to bring back very much in a trade. Cheap/controllable bullpen help sounds about right.
Although I’m reluctantly high on Walker to the Yankees, I think Belli may be a better fit for the roster: LH bat, multi-position player, and fills the 1B needs with a slightly above average bat and excellent defense. Moreover, he would provide for an acquisition with no added penalties, unlike a Walker signing.
It’s definitely not upper-echelon for Lowe. The Yankees should be able to do much better though, by signing Walker or trading for someone similar. Someone who actually has power.
Luis Gil for Tucker incoming (my friend told me, complain to him)
Gil is controllable through 2029. I hope that isn’t the trade.
If Tuckers signs an extension, I would do that.
could even see the cubs in on it sending an OF and an IF to the astros (related or unrelated to this trade)
I said this yesterday as well, but if he’d be open to an extention and the Astros gave us that window, I’d back the prospect brinks truck for him. Take everyone.
I mean you won’t get Tucker for free. It has to hurt you. Schmidt, Gil or Jasson… Astros would want one of them for sure. I would rather trade Schmidt or Gil than Jasson.
Yup, I already said they can have Gil even for the one year.
BronxBombers yes it has to hurt but it can’t cost more than the acquisition of Soto from just last year. As ROY, Gil has proven himself at the major league level and has many years of control left. Soto cost King (2 years of control), Thorpe (top pitching prospect still unproven at the major league level) and some throw ins including Higgy. I agree with the thought of being ok if he signs an extension but not with just one year of control.
I agree Joe, if he won’t sign an extension no thx
I’d be 100% in on this.
Astros would probably want Jasson to replace Tucker.
Ok Red Sox fans, now is an appropriate time to start venting on the lack of direction and free agent activity of the franchise. They weren’t very close on Soto and now big names are coming off the board. Market is WAY up on FA. Time to pay up and make the team better via free agency as well as target high dollar cost trade acquisitions to retain prospect capital
Ya I think we all saw this coming,,,,they new they had no chance on Soto, but they threw an offer out to save face while they should have been trying to sign the pitcher they needed. Though,. Im not sure if any of the pitchers besides the Snell deal were going to sign before soto did.. Boras knew he could up the value with desperate bidders who just lost out on Soto! Market is crazy and sox may make a trade for a pitcher, but wont sign one for the price they are demanding. Im thinking a reunion of Nate, or Nick maybe a short opt out foe Walker Buehler.
Nate already reupped with the Rangers, 3/$75M
Rule 5 Selections; over/under by White Sox 2.5 (that’s two and a half, not 25). They can actually reach and throw middling prospects onto their roster and hope to find the diamond in the rough.
Might be tough but a rule 5 article breaking down the top available players would be interesting
Yanks 1b situation:
I would prefer Belli over Walker at 1b. I don’t think the difference between Walker’s glove vs Belli’s is great enough to justify the extra $$$ that Walker will command, assuming that the prospect cost won’t be high and that the Cubs might eat some of his slay or take a contract back. Belli’s, at worst, would be around 2/$52 mil whereas Walker, in what looks like a very competitive market, might get between 3/$75 to maybe 4/$90. Belli just crosses to many boxes for the Yanks. He’s 5 years younger than Walker. Bats left-handed. Hits will vs righties. Would be moving to a much more friendlier ballpark where it’s 314 down the RF line vs .353 in Wrigley or Dodger stadium at 330 ft. He won’t block Ben Rice in case he’s the real deal and five his way to the majors because of the short length of his contract that comes with an option. He can also back up LF and CF should there be an injury to the starter or a back up if JD struggles and needs more seasoning in AAA. Finally, I’d like to see the Yanks bring in high character youngish vets with a pedigree. If they’ve thrived in major media markets, then even better. Again, Belli checks both boxes. He played in the bright lights of LA and Chicago, has a WS ring and is a former MVP.
Fried is another example of a high character guy with a pedigree. He’s another WS winner who won the deciding game pitching 6 innings of shutout baseball. Add to the fact that he’s a 3x GG winner helps too.
Yanks LF situation:
For left field I’d like them to go after Jurickson Profar. He’s a switch hitter than in 498 PA had a .823 OPS vs RHP. Overall he slashed a line of .280/.380/.459 with a 11% BB rate vs 15% k rate. He gives the lineup versatility because he’s a switch hitter. And he gives the Yanks something they desperately need as a contact hitter who walks and doesn’t strike out much. His glove is below average but I’d be OK with it. Sign Jason Heyward to be the 4th OF for late inning defensive substitution. Hayward is another high character who’s won a WS.
Yanks at 3b:
I’m ok with Jazz at 3b, but if the market for Bregman proves to be underwhelming, then maybe the Yanks could be creative.
5/$175 w/ a $25 mil signing bonus with $25 mil deferred. Maybe offer a vesting option for $25 mil based on PA, AS award, GG, or MVP? I’m not an expert on deffered money vs salary cap, but the signing bonus should lower the aav to $30 per. Would the $25 deferred lower it the same way, bringing the Aav down to $25 m per year? I can stomach that. That covers him from age 31-35. Astros were rumored to offer him 6/$156 . Yanks offer (without factoring in deffered depreciation) would be $19 to $44 mil more with potential for more endorsement opportunities. If they acquire Belli or Walker at 1b then am infield of Belli/Walker-Jazz-Volpe-Bregman could be incredible.
A lineup up of
Jazz
JD
Judge
Bregman
Belli
Profar
Stanton
Wells
Volpe
Gives you defense (aside from Profar), 7 guys with 20+ homer potential, 3 guys with 25+ SB potential and 3 switch hitters, 4 righties and 2 lefties.
Another Yankee trade target:
Arenando and Helsley
Arenando is owed a net 3/$64 mil and Helsley is a FA next year.
Yanks trade Stroman, Schmidt and Peraza for Arenando and Helsley. They eat all of his contract. Stl saves a net $46 mil (Arenando contact- Stroman’s) and get a good young SP with 3 years of control. Yanks get a GG caliber 3b and reduce his annual from $21 mil to $15 mil per one you deduct the value of Stroman’s deal. My logic is, the Yanks would jump to sign Christian Walker to a 3/$45 mil deal. 3b is a much more important position for defense than 1b and the offensive production between the two is not THAT significant. Arenado’s glove @ 3b is much better than Walker’s at 1b. Slide Jazz to 2b and either keep Durbin at AAA or use him for a trade. I think 3 years of Schmidt is better than 1 year of Helsley who walks next year. Not sure if that an overpay on the Yanks behalf but that be worked out by sending a prospect to the Yanks.
It’s an overpay for the Cardinals. Why would they want to trade a top-notch closer and Arenado, who is still a pretty good player, for those guys?
@hammer
Because your GM publicly announced that he wants to try and move Arenando immediately and right now, his performance, despite the elite defense, is seen as a negative? You poopoo on a young starter coming off a good year with 3 years of control?
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There shouldn’t be a comma before “either.”